Time to make history
Rachael Blackmore in National victory
Rachael Blackmore made history yesterday by becoming the f irst female jockey to win the Grand National.
There were no spectators at the Merseyside track because of Covid rules but the historic moment was not lost on the other j ockeys , t ra iner s and owners in attendance, who cheered the pair back i nto t he winner ’ s enclosure.
Thrilled Blackmore said: “I don’t feel male or female right now – I don’t even feel human. This is just unbelievable.”
The Tipperary jockey rode 11-1 shot Minella Times to victory for Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead and owner JP McManus. Blackmore, who last month was the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham – on De Bromhead’s Honeysuckle – bided her time before challenging and leading two out en route to even greater glory at Aintree. Blackmore said: “I just cannot believe it. He was an absolutely sensational spin. What Henry de Bromhead does with these horses, I don’t know. “I’m so lucky to be riding them, I just cannot believe I’ m after winning the Grand National. This is unbelievable.” Blackmore was full of praise for Minella Times, one of seven horses in the race owned by JP McManus. She said: “He was just incredible, he jumped beautifully. I was trying to wait for as long as I could – when we jumped the last and I asked him for a bit, he was there.”
Following the race, BBC Radio 5 Live commentator John Hunt said: “In the late 1970s and 1980 female riders in this race were a bit of a novelty and a lot of people were actively against female participation in this race.
“Forty-four years is a long time but we can finally put that to bed. Rachael Blackmore is a flag-bearer for the sport and I’m absolutely delighted to be one of the few to have witnessed it this afternoon – a very special Grand National moment.”
Katie Walsh, who finished third on board Seabass in the Grand National in 2012, said: “It’s absolutely brilliant. Rachael is a fascinating girl, she is remarkable and I’m absolutely over the moon for her. She works so hard and is an inspiration for women and for men – I’m her No1 fan.
“She has taken some terrible falls and bounced back, she really is an animal. The mental strength she has is something to behold.”
BBC sports presenter Clare Balding tweeted: “Wow wow wow. Rachael Blackmore makes history. Fabulous. Always in the right position on Minella Times, jumped beautifully, timed her run perfectly.”
De Bromhead said: “It’s amazing – it’s what you dream of. I’ve been watching since I was a kid. So lucky, it is stuff you dream of.
“Rachael is brilliant. I am so lucky to have her. She’s just brilliant. She broke the mould.”
Now all eyes turn to the Scottish Grand National at Ayr next Saturday with its £150,000 prize.